ME5620 Renewable Energy Systems For The Built Environment.docx
1. ME5620 Renewable Energy Systems For The Built Environment
Answer:
Explore Potential Renewable Energy Resources, Including Current Storage
And Generation Technologies.
Solar Energy
The photovoltaic effect of solar panels give rise to solar energy through the absorption of
solar radiation and converting it to electrical energy. In this case, the atoms of sunlight
photons are splinted to electrons which results to electrical energy. The electricity
produced is channeled through electrical cables for transmission either in local grid system
or direct consumption(Arndt, Arent, Hartley, Merven, and Mondal, 2019, p.149).
Advantages Of Solar Energy
The energy is cheap and reduce on cost of electricity.
Solar energy complements or supplement other form of energy in case of outages.
The cost of maintaining is low after its installation.
The energy generated is clean.
Disadvantages Of Solar Energy
Solar panels are costly to purchase and install.
It is expensive to construct substation for solar energy.
Installation of solar substation consume large space.
Solar energy depends on weather changes, therefore cannot be harnessed during the night.
Wind Energy
The wind’s kinetic energy is utilized to spin the wind turbines, the turbine’s motion is
transmitted to the generator which give rise to electrical energy. The electricity produced is
channeled through electrical cables for transmission either in local grid system or direct
consumption(Batel, 2020, p.101544).
Advantages Of Wind Energy
2. The energy generated is cheap and reduce on cost of electricity.
Wind energy complements or supplement other form of energy in case of outages.
The cost to maintain wind turbines is low after its installation.
The energy generated is renewable and clean.
Disadvantages Of Wind Energy
It is expensive to purchase and install wind turbines.
Wind turbines are wind-dependent hence, are effective to areas with windy weather.
Wind turbines may cause noise pollution.
Energy transmission is expensive since they are mostly installed in remote places.
Hydropower
The kinetic energy of water current is utilized to turn hydroelectric turbine which is
connected to the generator, the turbine’s motion is transmitted to the generator which
induce electrical energy. The electricity produced is channeled through electrical cables for
transmission to grid system or direct consumption(Carrington and Stephenson, 2018,
p.103).
Advantages Of Hydroelectrical Energy
The energy generated is renewable and clean.
The energy last for long after its installation.
The cost to maintain after its installation is low.
The hydroelectrical energy is reliable and effective.
Disadvantages Of Hydroelectrical Energy
Hydroelectrical energy depends seasonal changes, therefore cannot be harnessed water
levels goes down.
The generations hydroelectrical is affected by erosion and siltation of reservoir which cause
water blockages.
Energy transmission is expensive since they are mostly installed in remote places.
It is expensive to construct substation for hydroelectric energy.
Installation of hydroelectric substation consume large space.
Tidal Energy
The kinetic energy of ocean tides and current is utilized to turn hydroelectric turbine which
is connected to the generator, the turbine’s motion is transmitted to the generator which
induce electrical energy. The electricity produced is channeled through electrical cables for
transmission to grid system(Chen, 2022, p. 012044).
Advantages Of Tidal Energy
The energy generated is renewable and clean.
3. Tidal energy is reliable and effective.
It has a high energy production density.
Has slightly low maintenance and operation costs.
It is an inexhaustible form of energy.
Disadvantages Of Tidal Energy
The construction of a tidal energy plant requires high capital.
It has diverse effects on aquatic lives.
Its location is constrained to specific areas.
The energy generation is dependent on the variation of tides and water currents.
Adaption And Development Of Solar Energy
According to statistics, global solar energy consumption stands at about one per cent. This
consumption percentage is projected to rise to around thirty per cent in the next three
decades. This is because of the global requirements for people to be connected to green
energy and the increasing adaption of people to this form of clean energy. This will make
solar energy the most world's valuable energy resource compared to the power generated
from fossil fuels, wind, or hydroelectrical energy, which will help reduce Carbon
Emissions Currently, the efficiency of solar energy stands at thirty percent. It imply that
most energy from solar radiation is not utilized. In future, solar energy developments focus
on increasing its efficiency to eighty-five per cent and beyond. Therefore, the solar
manufactures are conducting various study and trials to increase the efficiency of solar
energy to benefit more consumers. The designs and development focuses on manufacturing
more reliable and durable energy storage systems, multi-junction cells and
perovskites(Souza Mendonca, Barni, Moro, Bornia, Kupek, and Fernandes, 2020, p.58).
The Solar Energy Storage System
The electrochemical storage facilities (batteries).
Adoption And Development Of Wind Energy
The electric and fossil fuels prices are currently raising, resulting in increasing electric bills.
The high price of grid power systems, such as hydroelectric power, is costly. Thus, resolving
to wind energy is one of the best alternatives to solve the problem of electric cost by
providing continuous, reliable, and stable power customers, compared to solar, which is
weather dependent. The use of horizontal axis wind turbines(HAWT) technology has
ensured the continuity of power generation due to its uniqueness of utilizing less wind to
generate more energy (Eitan, Herman, Fischhendler, and Rosen, 2019, p.95).
Wind Energy Storage Systems
The lead batteries.
4. Determine The Optimum Combination And Efficiencies Of Renewable Energy Technologies
For A Particular Location.
Connection Of Renewable Energy With Local Systems.
Solar energy
Solar energy is connected to the local system's grid by choosing an experienced and
competent licensed provider with an electrical company. They are to be familiar with the
local utility regulations on interconnection needs. The provider of solar energy
interconnection must supply the customers with all the requirements, such as inverters for
the local grid connection system, batteries for storage and backup, and special electric
meters that run forward and backwards to monitor the customer consumption rate. The
electric meters should be two; the one should monitor power generated that goes into the
local grid system and the other to monitor the power received(Gil, Chowdhury, Balta-Ozkan,
Hu, Varga, and Hart, 2021, p.527).
Wind energy
wind energy is connected to the local system's grid through the substations. The wind
energy generated from different wind turbines stations is transmitted according to their
local utility scale and brought together in the transmission system connected to the
distribution system through a substation. The electrical energy is connected to a local
system, which can be distributed to homes and markets or other energy users within the
local area(Hanssen, May, Dijk, and Rød, 2018, p.1840003).
Local area, London
According to statistics, the London solar energy consumption increases with the increasing
number of consumers and the need for advancement in green energy connectivity.
Which makes solar energy the most valuable energy resource for many households.
The electric and fossil fuels prices are currently raising, resulting in increasing electric bills.
The high price of grid power systems. The high price of grid power systems, such as
hydroelectric power, makes people in London resolve to solar energy. It is one of the best
alternatives to solve the problem of electric cost by providing continuous, reliable, and
stable power customers(Lu, Khan, Alvarez-Alvarado, Zhang, Huang, and Imran, 2020,
p.5078).
Conduct A Cost-Benefit Analysis Between Renewable And Conventional Energy Sources To
Determine The Most Viable Option.
Design Of Solar Energy System For Three Bedrooms House In London.
The solar energy system for the three-bedroom house will incur the service and the system
costs. The 5kW solar panel is essential in this design.
5. The Equipment Required
Solar panel
16 pieces of 350W monocrystalline solar panel; cell efficiency of 18%; voltage rates 38.39V
– 47.13V, size: 1956mm x 992mm x 40mm; operating temperature condition: -40 to 80.
Multiple PV Strings Inputs Of Maximum Open Voltage, 500V.
It's a protector controller from thunderstorms, and power surge protection protects the
electrical energy from flowing from one panel to another.
DC – AC Inverter, 5000W
The output AC range is 110V to 240V, high-efficiency transformer of 90%. Have protection
against overcharge, overload and over-discharge.
Storage Batteries
Eight pieces of 12V/200AH, deep cycle maintenance-free gel battery; with service life
between 6 to 8 years; and size, 522mm x 240mm x 219mm.
The Installation Ground
Slope roof with snow load below 1.5kn/m2 and wind load below 55m/s
Connect Cables
Terminal and battery cable.
4mm2PV terminals 100M and MC4.
2P 63A battery switch.
Consumption of 5kW solar system of three bedrooms house
12. What is calculated in cost-benefit Analysis is;
Net Present Value (NPV) of each energy; and Benefit-cost ratio of each energy.
Calculation Procedure
The net present value
When computing the Net Present Value (NPV) of each energy,
Find the future benefitsof each energy.
Obtain the cost value of future and present of each energy.
Compute the benefit and present value of future cost of each energy.
Computing the present value factor is given by;
Where;
The rate of discounting is denoted as r; and number of years, n
Calculating The Present Value
Future Benefits x Present Value Factor = Present Value of Future Benefits
Present Value of Future Costs of each energy = Future Costs of each energy x Present Value
Factor of each energy
Compute the Net Present Value of individual type of renewable energyas follows.
NPV = ∑ Present Value of Future Benefits – ∑ Present Value of Future Costs
WhenNet Present Value (NPV) is positive, the energy needs to be initiated, But when the
NPV is negative, do not consider the energy.
The Benefit-Cost Ratio
When computing the cost-benefit ratio;
Compute for future benefit
Compute for present and future cost
Compute the present value of future cost and benefit
Compute the benefit-cost ratio as follows;
Benefit-Cost Ratio =
13. When the benefit-cost ratio is more than 1, the energyis viable, but when the benefit-cost
ratio is below 1, do not consider the energy.
Therefore, comparing the cost-benefit of wind energy over solar energy, wind energy has
more advantages in future befits over solar energy; in the United Kingdom, there is plenty of
wind compared to solar. Hence, it is more reliable and effective.
Explain Socio-Economic, Legislative And Environmental Factors Involved In
The Consideration And Selection Of Other Approaches To Renewable Energy Resources
And Technologies
Solar energy is becoming more ubiquitous in various construction sites, such as at the tops
of parking structures and along the freeways. In future the installation of solar energy is
forecasted to incorporate other designing. The solar companies are designing floating solar
systems which are installed above the water bodies. This will relief pressure on rooftops of
buildings and the land while maintaining maximum harvesting of solar energy. The solar
system in this new design when they are over-heated, they will be cooled down by the
ocean breezes, thus increasing their efficiency and durability.
The figure shows floating solar design (the future of renewable energy)
https://www.landmarkdividend.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/future-of-solar-
power-v2.png
The design will enhance the development of the infrastructure such as both marine and
inland ports, transportation network, towns, agricultural land and terrestrial ecosystem.
The technique is essential to countries having less land mass in those that are islands and
have access to water bodies(Müller, Claar, Neumann, and Elsner, 2020, p.101551).
References
Arndt, C., Arent, D., Hartley, F., Merven, B. and Mondal, A.H., 2019. Faster than you think:
Renewable energy and developing countries. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 11,
pp.149-168. Retrieved from: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-
resource-100518-093759
Batel, S., 2020. Research on the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies: Past,
present and future. Energy Research & Social Science, 68, p.101544. retrieved from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620301213
Carrington, G. and Stephenson, J., 2018. The politics of energy scenarios: Are International
14. Energy Agency and other conservative projections hampering the renewable energy
transition?. Energy research & social science, 46, pp.103-113. Retrieved from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618307242
Chen, Y., 2022, February. Quantitative Analysis of renewable energy system structure based
on the weather condition in Cambridge, London, and Oxford. IOP Conference Series: Earth
and Environmental Science (Vol. 983, No. 1, p. 012044). IOP Publishing. Retrieved from:
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